Card counting is a system that experienced blackjack players use to get an edge over the house. While Hollywood would have you believe that it’s an incomprehensible process requiring the help of mathematicians, the truth is much simpler. Simply put, it’s a way to keep track of cards that have already been played in the shoe and to estimate how many high-value cards are left. This enables you to make smarter decisions at the table by increasing your bets when the count is positive and decreasing them when it’s negative.

There are a number of card counting systems, and each one has its own nuances that you’ll need to learn in order to use it effectively. However, the basics of all counts revolve around dividing the total number of undealt cards by the total number of decks in play, giving you a number called the “true count.” The higher the true count, the more advantageous it is to play, as you’ll know that more high-value cards remain in the shoe.

Whether you’re playing online or in a land-based casino, it’s important to be discrete while card counting. Casinos aren’t exactly fans of advantage players, and you could find yourself being asked to leave if you’re caught. Especially if you’re attempting to play in single-deck blackjack games, which are often adjusted by the casinos to tip the odds more in their favor, such as by restricting re-splits and allowing dealers to hit on soft 17.

Can I count cards in Blackjack online?

It’s not impossible to count cards in blackjack online, but it will be a lot more difficult than doing so in a physical casino. Despite what some might tell you, there are no laws against card counting, though casinos don’t particularly like it and may ask you to leave if they suspect that you’re doing it. In addition, most online casinos use continuous shuffle machines, which makes it nearly impossible to keep track of the true count as you play.

The best way to practice your counting skills when playing blackjack online is by finding a game with good rules that uses a single-deck shoe and shuffles every hand after four of eight rounds. Then, you can work on learning how to keep a running count and apply various strategic deviations and index plays that take the count into account.

When you’re ready to try out your new card counting system, you should start with a simple balanced count such as the Hi-Lo Count. This assigns a value of +1 to all cards from two through six, a value of -1 to all face cards and 10s, and a value of 0 to all Aces. In this system, your bet size increases as the true count goes up, and you should also adjust your strategy to deviate from basic hitting and standing strategies in certain instances.